OPINION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2013
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STAFF EDITORIAL
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Email policy violates right to free speech THE ISSUE: Under the “Computer Systems Security” section of the WKU student handbook, students are warned their “e-mail resources” may be “revoked at any time for inappropriate conduct.” This label extends to any material that is “reasonably likely to be perceived as offensive based on race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious or political beliefs.” OUR STANCE: The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, has given WKU a red light rating for this curtailing of free speech. We applaud the Student Government Association for already passing a resolution that suggests WKU amend this section of the handbook that currently limits freedom of speech. As an organization that promotes an absolute freedom of speech as a cornerstone of the free press and democracy, the Herald urges the university to change this policy as soon as possible.
T
he year was 1969. Clarence Brandenburg, a Ku Klux Klan member, was on trial for a charge of inciting violence with his racist speech against the black community in Ohio. The case, Brandenburg v. Ohio, eventually came to the Supreme Court. In one of the most decisive endorsements of free speech in United States history, the Supreme Court declared that the “constitutional guarantees of
free speech and free press do not permit a state to forbid or proscribe advocacy of the use of force, or of law violation, except where such advocacy is directed to inciting imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.” This protected Brandenburg’s speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution and established the “imminent lawless action” test as the only means to limit free speech in the U.S. Basically, unless one can prove that certain speech is responsible for “imminent lawless action,” it is covered under the First Amendment’s right to free speech. However, WKU’s own policy is not aligned with this notion. When contacted by the Herald about this policy of revoking email resources for what WKU could determine as offensive speech, Howard Bailey, vice president for Student Affairs, said his staff was already planning to look at the wording of the policy. This policy shouldn’t exist in the first place if the university wishes to uphold its reputation as being a leading academic institution that values a free exchange of ideas. As Bob Owen, vice president for information technology, said in his interview with the Herald, we understand that monitoring all student email for hate speech is impossible, making the possibility of a massive restriction on free speech among students quite slim. But that doesn’t make the policy any
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
more tolerable because it does not guarantee freedom for a student who might decide to send out a mass email that catches the university’s attention. Under the current policy, WKU can silence such a student. This is simply intolerable in a community that ought to value the broadening of minds. Bailey said the university will be working on a change to the student handbook that will better define what speech can be limited by the university.
“Hate speech should be challenged with other speech, not suppressed,” he said. This is the pillar of American democracy, and the administration has an opportunity to support it for the future leaders currently studying at WKU. Changing this policy should be a priority for WKU moving forward.
This editorial represents the majority opinion of the Herald's 9-member editorial board.
Parade causes transportation problems
Response to Oct. 22 Herald Editorial The Herald editorial on October 22 in the Graduate and Undergraduate addressed the new priority registra- Catalog” during the open registration tion policy, which will be effective for period, which immediately follows Spring 2014 registration onwards. The the priority registration period. editorial stated that “students with This information was communipriority registration, excluding seniors cated by the University Registrar to all and graduate students, will be affected students via e-mail on limited to signing up for 16 October 21. hours of classes this spring.” The new policy thus affords This is not the case. While all students the opportunity to Policy 1.3140 (which folregister for the same number of lowed the normal univercourses as before, while reducsity procedure for academic ing the extent to which seats policy approval and which in classes may be unavailable was presented to the SGA in to students who do not have September, with no adverse the special priority registration Emslie comments received) does privilege. It therefore addresses limit to 16 the total number of hours the needs of various student groups in for which an undergraduate student a reasonable and fair manner. may register during the priority regisGordon Emslie, Provost and Vice tration period, it goes on to state that President for Academic Affairs and students may subsequently add addi- Mark Reeves, SGA Representative to tional courses “up to the limits estab- the University Senate Executive Comlished by the university and published mittee
While everyone else was gearing up for the homecoming parade, I was worrying about how I would get to my car. You see, I get out of my last class at 2:45, and because of the parking pass I could afford this semester for the first time since I'd started back to WKU, I have to park at Campbell Lane. At 2:42, I was putting my things in my bag a little early. At 2:43, I was biting my lip, trying to think of the quickest stop to get to. At 2:44, my hand was on my drink. At 2:45, my professor dismissed us, and unlike other days in that class, I was out of there as fast as I could get and running down the Hill toward the Valley. I am not an athletic person, so running wasn't something I usually do. I managed to get to the stop at the Valley just as the White line was pulling up for its last pick-up until 6 p.m. Now, I don't begrudge the university for the parade. Far from it. But
for an event that didn't start until 5, why did they have to close down the buses at 3? And why did they have to close down both Red and White? Red doesn't even use State Street or Big Red Way, yet it was ending service at 3 just like White. Two hours to prepare for a parade is a little extensive, too. I've been in plenty of parades in my lifetime, having been in marching band back in high school. I think the earliest we were ever at a starting location for a parade was an hour prior to time to head out. And these were some pretty major parades: the Golden Armor Parade in Radcliff, which is a solid two miles in length (or was when we marched). The Heartland Festival parade in Elizabethtown. I think our band director even signed us up one year for the Pegasus Parade up in Louisville. Thanks for letting me vent. Elizabethtown senior Courtney McDowell
CARTOON STRIP
@MsLayne_ I’m gettin tired if this DSU mess. It’s #DUC forever! #wku #nostalgia — Sent 6:21 PM/27 Oct 13 TWEETS FROM THE HILL
@TheGK_Shepherd One of our alums just said cool story bro at our dinner after another brothers speech. Freaking epic. #ATO #WKU #Bro #TFM — Sent 9:22 PM/26 Oct 13
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@kevinapenn All these basics taking pictures with Big Red. I will never. #wku — Sent 1:51 PM/27 Oct 13 @kelliroxxo Homecoming was SO close and now I'm mad we didn’t win #wku — Sent 8:48 PM/26 Oct 13
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